H-P's Board Signals Closer Oversight of CEO

Directors Hire Outside Lawyers to Probe $11 Billion Purchase

Hewlett-Packard Co.'s board is investigating the company's flawed $11 billion acquisition of software firm Autonomy Corp., and has set up an informal committee to provide strategic advice to Chief Executive Meg Whitman.

The moves were disclosed by some H-P directors in a private meeting with big investors on Monday, according to a person who attended the meeting. The efforts appeared to be aimed at demonstrating that the board has...